Towards a Sustainable Healthcare: A longitudinal study linking healthcare professionals’ working conditions, health, and patient safety

This project aims to 1) investigate healthcare professionals’ working conditions and health over time and identify occupational risk factors, 2) link healthcare professionals’ working conditions and burnout with patient safety, and 3) explore the long- and short-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare professionals’ working conditions and health and patient safety.The project will be carried out for four years, starting in 2023.

During this time, we will set up the Longitudinal Occupational Health database for HealthCare professionals in Sweden (LOHHCS-study) and a register-based open cohort. The LOHHCS cohort includes a representative sample of physicians and registered and assistant nurses working in Sweden. Data will be collected yearly.

Data includes validated questions on psychosocial work environment and health. LOHHCS-data will be linked to individual and organisational level register data. The open cohort will be used to explore the prevalence of sick leave. For aim 1, regressions and individual growth models will be applied. In aim 2, multilevel models will be applied.

These methods will also be used in relation to aim3.This project will identify organisational shortcomings that drive and maintain ill-health among healthcare professionals and provide empirical evidence for the relationship between working conditions, burnout, and patient outcomes in Sweden. The LOHHCS-study enable research on healthcare services beyond the scope of this project.